Infant Baptism?

One of the questions posed by many of my
close friends in ministry is, “How could
you, a true Baptist, Ordained into the
Ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
even think about baptizing an infant?"

It is a fair question. It really does go
against the grain of everything I had been
taught at home and through seminary.
However, it was not done without a lot of
heart-searching, thought and prayer on my
part.

Many years ago while tending to a cemetery
plot along with my mother and dad on a
hillside above Clymer, PA, I was numbed
by the thought of a tiny grave placed
just outside the fence of the main cemetery
grounds. It was a Roman Catholic Cemetery,
and they did that because of some belief
that if a child died before the age of
accountability they could not be buried
inside. I am not sure of the theology of
their beliefs back then (late 1940).
I will here however endeavor to explain
my feelings (YES, FEELINGS) about it all.

The photo of a child in my up stretched arms
may best, even more than worlds, go a long
way to my present understanding and firm
beliefs. Just as the Catholic church in the
1940s would not allow an infant to be buried
inside the cemetery I was likewise taught that
only those arriving at an age of personal
accountability accept Jesus Christ as ones
personal savior.

This teaching had always troubled me.
I was troubled by the thought that
Jesus would in any way, form or fashion, turn
away a baby that died soon after birth. How
could that be? As I gaze back over the dusty
history of my years of ministry questions on
this subject seem to be sort of insignificant.

The one thing that encouraged me to be most
comfortable about this is -- how I came to my
personal understanding that this sacrament
is on the same par as Holly Communion
and Marriage. My understanding came more
as a growth experience – more so than any
education, teaching or theological ideal.

I know of all the Scripture references –
learned them by heart while a child – and
understand how they are used to interpret and
point out that Infant Baptism is not to be . . .
I have sermons in my files that teach the same.

So, the question: Why did I baptize this child
– as well as many others – while in ministery?

First: I baptized no one. I was only an instrument
of God used to do His will. If by immersion,
pouring, sprinkling or whatever way, it was God
that gave the results.

Second: By leading in this sacrament God gave
me opportunity to challenge the parents and
congregation to welcome this new life into
God’s care through the church. This was the
highlight of the ceremony. I was able by the
reading of the Word and the sermon to bring
to attention of everyone there how God will
hold them responsible to look over that new
life and bring it up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord. Often there were
family members that came to the service only
because their ‘grand-daughter’, ‘grand-son’,
or niece — whatever, was to be the star of
this Holy event and it may have been the only
time when some of them would hear the Gospel
of Jesus Christ preached in such a personal
way – and the sermon would always involve
them in a very personal challenge.

Third: Another way this became meaningful
was the personal opportunity provided to
try and touch this young life in a lasting
and meaningful way. I always wrote a letter
to the little one being baptized. In the
letter I would recall the date of his or her
baptism and indicate that one day they will
likely, on their own, decide to make a
choice. I would indicate that my prayers
were that his or her mom and dad would sill
be there, and that they had promised to
bring him or her up in the church. I wrote
on the envelope a date that would be around
the birthday that would see them into the
teen-age years of life. I would hand the
envelope to the mother and father at the
baptism and again challenge them to see to
giving their child a Christian home. And
that they would also give the envelope to
the child on the date inscribed. Seldom
did a parent receive the envelope with dry
eyes.

I wish there was a way I could know how many
children have now received that envelope
and what their lives are like today. There
will be a day though, that I shall know how
their lives turned out. I am much comforted
by the words, “suffer the little children
. . . to come unto me.” I did as my heart
responded to that instruction from our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.

~~ Bob Craig

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